A few years ago, while walking around the streets of Santa Fe, New Mexico, I glanced over and this piece of art caught my eye. I was drawn to it. The simplicity of it. The colors: green for Life and Nature, a hint of yellow for Happiness. The prayerful hands, the serene, closed eyes, and the head ever so slightly bowed in prayer.

I flipped it over and read the title: “A Green Prayer.” Next, I glanced down at the artist’s name: Muller Davis. Green—my last name. Davis—my son’s first name. A HAPPY, PEACEFUL feeling overcame me. Sold!

Right before going into the hospital for a bi-lateral mastectomy (following a breast cancer diagnosis), my “Sisters” on so many levels held a sacred evening of love for me and my family. There were many beautiful rituals performed that evening, which wove together to present a complete ceremony, marking the healing journey I had just begun. One of the rituals was a prayer circle. Going around the circle, one at a time, each person offered up a one to two word prayer for me (presented below). As each person said their prayer, I looked them in the eye, felt their love and sincerity, accepted their profound gift and blessing, and offered gratitude.

As the last person spoke, I realized that their prayers made up “A Green Prayer”…not your common prayer, but a visual prayer that appeared to me in a piece of art. With their heartfelt words, my Sister-Friends had embodied the same simple, beautiful, circular flow the artist had portrayed in the piece of art I’d been so drawn to. And once again, I felt Happy. Peaceful.

My prayer for you today is this: May you feel the sense of happiness and peace in your life that you so deserve. Claim it…even if yours doesn’t look like a common prayer…CLAIM IT.

As I sat and began preparing an article for this morning, the morning I undergo the last of my surgeries after being diagnosed with breast cancer this past summer, I realized I’ve already written about where I’d like to be today (emotionally).

I’m happy to share with you, that Today, I Feel Peace Like That; peace like I wrote about in the following article I published earlier this year. Peace that I didn’t feel at the time I wrote this article, but I do now.

So today, as you think of me, of the surgeons and the medical staff attending to me, please find it somewhere inside yourself to also feel Peace Like That.

I hope you enjoy today’s reblog. Love, Leslie

~~~~

“Peace Like That”

We’ve heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, last summer as I took the following picture, I only felt ONE word: Peace.

Right before I took the picture, my son felt my presence and opened his eyes, he even began to sit up. I was sure I had missed the opportunity to capture such a state of calm; that there was no way he could lull himself into that peaceful bliss again. But within seconds, he was back, as serene as you see him now. I was amazed at how quickly he was able to Let Go.

Looking closely, you’ll notice that only the tips of his toes, his stomach and chest, and a portion of his face are exposed. I imagine the water surrounding his body like that, coupled with the slight air that was touching him made for a soothing combination. Over the past week I’ve looked at this picture dozens of times. As I look at it, I try and imagine what it feels like to feel that much peace. I especially focus on his face.

Clearly, he’s not worried about anything. His ears are submerged so he’s not distracted by any outside noise, but rather he’s experiencing that muffled sense of sound like one does when under water. He feels air on his face and Trusts his next breath will come. He knows he has a secure foundation underneath him that will not betray him. Somehow he even knows his brother and friend will not jump in the pool and disturb his peace, or perhaps he doesn’t care. He’s not concerned about anything in this moment.

I want peace like that.

Many times (yesterday, for instance) I rush around so much, I feel as if life is moving WAY too fast. When it’s three o’clock in the afternoon and I haven’t eaten breakfast or lunch yet, there’s a problem. Around that time the phone rang, and although I knew I was feeling terribly depleted, and terribly hungry, I chose to pick it up anyway. Moments later I heard myself say out loud that things are so hectic I feel I’m barely keeping my head above water. My girlfriend laughed and said, “Sounds like a good topic for your next article.” But I already had a topic, I was going to write about the picture above and the peace within.

And it hit me. My son’s face was above water. But he wasn’t feeling the anxiety that I was. He literally, and I figuratively, had our heads above water, but his way was serving him well, mine was not.

Over time I’ve studied this picture, trying to capture the essence of the peace he was feeling. I shared the picture with my mom and discussed with her the peace I feel when I look at it. Then, somewhere along the way, I allowed myself to move way too fast. I allowed myself to get caught up with the next, and the next, and the next, instead of Being. I was holding on to Doing, instead of Being, and as a result I was feeling weighed down.

Moments later, rummaging around in my office, I saw a quote by Buddha. “Life can only take place in the present moment. If we lose the present moment, we lose life.”

Lose life? No! I treasure life. I Trust Life. How can I honor this life that Our Creator has given me by allowing myself to spin out of control with my thoughts and actions? I’ve found over the years it’s been difficult for me to tame my thoughts, however, with practice I’ve gotten much better. But my actions? Those are much easier to slow down. And I did. As soon as I paused long enough to acknowledge what I had been doing, I stopped dead in my tracks, and began to simply Be. I Let Go and felt free.

I’d like to end with a prayer I read recently:

“All things have energy. The more we hold on to, the more we are weighed down. In order to move forward with any aspect of our lives, Let Go of all that does not feed the present you. The past is done, the future is still developing. Be true, be free, be you.”

What Is a Synchronicity Magnet?

Once, I remember sending a ‘Thank you’ email to my friend Tony, to which he responded, “My pleasure! I’m a synchronicity magnet. :-)” Since that day, I’ve noticed that I too am a synchronicity magnet. Whether by his suggestion that he was, or perhaps by planting the seed that such a thing existed, all wrapped up in a clever little two word package… whatever sparked the realization in me, it’s true. I am, in fact, a synchronicity magnet.

These things people call coincidences, or synchronicities, come in all shapes and sizes. The small ones are cool. The large ones are cool. The size doesn’t really matter. It’s the Noticing that matters. The more you notice, the more the pieces fall together for you, illuminating your way, similar to the way a lighthouse beckons a ship. Leading, providing comfort in the knowledge that you’re not lost at sea.

Recent Examples of Synchronicity Magnetism:

Last weekend I met a group of women in New Mexico for lunch. I sat down beside the one I happened to not be acquainted with. I soon discovered that she, along with the help of a scientist, had formulated a skin care line that virtually diminishes scar tissue. Hey! Give me some of that… I think I’ll be needing some here pretty soon! (I realize I’ve been positive about my healing since this recent diagnosis, but to be honest, the idea of massive scars that ensue after a double mastectomy has not thrilled me. Cancer is cancer and let’s get rid of it, no doubt! However, much of my emotional state afterwards, the part I’ll see in the mirror for decades to come will serve as a reminder. Scars? Overt reminders? No, I think I can do without those, thank you.)

Earlier last week I was intrigued by two women who were sitting at the table beside me at. I walked up and introduced myself, only to find out that one was a healer who ran a healing center near where I was staying. I extended my trip and spent the next three days with her, learning, absorbing, healing.

My same friend Tony, the original synchronicity magnet in this article, made a virtual introduction for me recently, that has blown my socks off! He made the introduction for reason ‘A’, which has now expanded to include ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’…each with a wealth of information and possibilities for me personally, as well as for Trust Life Today.

And Gail, sweet, sweet Gail, whose daughter literally stumbled into my table at dinner a few weeks ago (I say stumbled — someone was ‘out on the town’ that night!). I didn’t know the daughter. I didn’t know Gail. But the daughter and I ended up having a mutual friend in common. My friend and the daughter ran into each other the next day, started talking, one thing led to another, and now I have found a resource who has shared her heart with me about undergoing the same procedure I will be experiencing.

Seriously, I could go on and on. However, my intention was NOT to make this article full of a long list of examples. My original intent was to share with you my belief that we’re ALL synchronicity magnets. Our worlds unfold for us in miraculous ways. Pay attention, please, pay attention. Blessings surround us in every direction.

Most importantly, set your intention.Then Believe. My mom mentioned to me yesterday, “Isn’t it great, Leslie? Look at all these wonderful people in your life. It’s as if you draw them to you.” To which I thought, yes, look at them… with a nice, wide smile on my face.

We got off the phone and the first email I opened read:

“Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

We’ve heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, last summer as I took the following picture, I only felt ONE word: Peace.

Right before I took the picture, my son felt my presence and opened his eyes, he even began to sit up. I was sure I had missed the opportunity to capture such a state of calm; that there was no way he could lull himself into that peaceful bliss again. But within seconds, he was back, as serene as you see him now. I was amazed at how quickly he was able to Let Go.

Looking closely, you’ll notice that only the tips of his toes, his stomach and chest, and a portion of his face are exposed. I imagine the water surrounding his body like that, coupled with the slight air that was touching him made for a soothing combination. Over the past week I’ve looked at this picture dozens of times. As I look at it, I try and imagine what it feels like to feel that much peace. I especially focus on his face.

Clearly, he’s not worried about anything. His ears are submerged so he’s not distracted by any outside noise, but rather he’s experiencing that muffled sense of sound like one does when under water. He feels air on his face and Trusts his next breath will come. He knows he has a secure foundation underneath him that will not betray him. Somehow he even knows his brother and friend will not jump in the pool and disturb his peace, or perhaps he doesn’t care. He’s not concerned about anything in this moment.

I want peace like that.

Many times (yesterday, for instance) I rush around so much, I feel as if life is moving WAY too fast. When it’s three o’clock in the afternoon and I haven’t eaten breakfast or lunch yet, there’s a problem. Around that time the phone rang, and although I knew I was feeling terribly depleted, and terribly hungry, I chose to pick it up anyway. Moments later I heard myself say out loud that things are so hectic I feel I’m barely keeping my head above water. My girlfriend laughed and said, “Sounds like a good topic for your next article.” But I already had a topic, I was going to write about the picture above and the peace within.

And it hit me. My son’s face was above water. But he wasn’t feeling the anxiety that I was. He literally, and I figuratively, had our heads above water, but his way was serving him well, mine was not.

Over time I’ve studied this picture, trying to capture the essence of the peace he was feeling. I shared the picture with my mom and discussed with her the peace I feel when I look at it. Then, somewhere along the way, I allowed myself to move way too fast. I allowed myself to get caught up with the next, and the next, and the next, instead of Being. I was holding on to Doing, instead of Being, and as a result I was feeling weighed down.

Moments later, rummaging around in my office, I saw a quote by Buddha. “Life can only take place in the present moment. If we lose the present moment, we lose life.”

Lose life? No! I treasure life. I trust life. How can I honor this life that Our Creator has given me by allowing myself to spin out of control with my thoughts and actions? I’ve found over the years it’s been difficult for me to tame my thoughts, however, with practice I’ve gotten much better. But my actions? Those are much easier to slow down. And I did. As soon as I paused long enough to acknowledge what I had been doing, I stopped dead in my tracks, and began to simply Be. I Let Go and felt free.

I’d like to end with a prayer I read recently:

“All things have energy. The more we hold on to, the more we are weighed down. In order to move forward with any aspect of our lives, Let Go of all that does not feed the present you. The past is done, the future is still developing. Be true, be free, be you.”

Follow Me

Get The Book

About

I understand that for many, Trust does not come easy. It falls into the black-hole called "Easier-Said-Than-Done." And here is why: Because as children, most of us learned the exact opposite of how trust works.
Continue reading >>